05-13-02 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 13, 2002 vacant land. The homes that are directly to the south of the vacant property which are on St. Vincent do have private drives and garages and those homes are not impacted by this alley in any way. Mrs. Payne noted that it is their initial intent for the alley to remain as a drive and to remain as accessible land for maintenance vehicles. The only inconvenience will be that it is not a through alley. Councilmember Kirsits stated that his question is regarding the land immediately to the south of the alley opposite the Payne's driveway and asked if that was vacant property with no houses on it. Mrs. Payne stated that that was correct. Councilmember Varner made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Aranowski seconded the motion. Councilmember Coleman noted that he views this as a public safety consideration in so much as the alleyway does come very close to the property owned by the Payne's and the Council has in recent history worked hard to relieve homeowners of alleyways that traverse as close as this one does to their properties when it does not affect normal traffic. He noted that he does not see in any way that this vacation would prevent people from being able to move either along Frances Street, Notre Dame Avenue or St. Vincent Street. The motion carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. BILL NO. 26 -02 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL AMENDING CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION 17 -56 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE SEWER SERVICE FUND AND CHARGES Councilmember Al "Buddy" Kirsits reported that the Utilities Committee met on this bill and sends it to the Council with a favorable recommendation. Mr. Jack Dillon, Director, Division of Environmental Services, 3113 Riverside Drive, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Mr. Dillon advised that this bill increases the assessment paid by homeowners for the sewer insurance program. The purpose of this program is to defray a portion of the costs of the repair of the private sewer that extends from the outside wall of the residence to the City sewer in the street. The first five hundred dollars ($500.00) of this insurance is a deducible that is paid by the homeowner. The remaining portion of the cost for this repair will be paid by this insurance fund. In the past, the average cost of these types of repairs has run around two thousand two hundred dollars ($2,200.00) so the homeowners would pay about one -fourth (1/4) of that total cost. In the past couple of years there has been an increase of thirty (30) to fifty (50) repairs a year and an increase in costs from about one thousand eight hundred dollars ($1,800.00) in 1999 to two thousand eight hundred dollars ($2,800.00) in 2001. The purpose of the increase would be to increase the revenues from this rate to continue to cover the cost of this program and keep a reserve fund available should a catastrophe occur. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. There being no one present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill, Councilmember Aranowski made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council. Councilmember Coleman seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of seven (7) ayes. -5-